PMs whirlwind tour highlights tight federal seats

Do not be fooled by Kevin Rudd's whirlwind tour of Australia's capital cities, including Perth.

Ostensibly, it is linked to the patriotism surrounding Australia Day but the real agenda is the federal election due later this year and Labor's hopes of winning a second term in power.

The tour itinerary includes functions where the Prime Minister will be rubbing shoulders with the community and other leaders in all the States.

Not necessarily Labor heartland but the Rudd message will clearly be that he is a Prime Minister with the national interest very much at heart.

If this leads to more swinging voters inclined to give Labor another term he would be delighted.

Marginal seats

With five of WA's 15 federal seats considered marginal, the response of voters could be crucial.

The contest attracting the most early interest is in Canning where Liberal Don Randall, a proven marginal seat campaigner, has 4.3 per cent up his sleeve.

His opponent will be former State Labor Minister, Alannah MacTiernan, who is already engaged in a high profile campaign to build her support beyond the boundaries of her State seat of Armadale, which is within Canning.

Ms MacTiernan has started the year at a furious pace but has said she will relinquish some State front bench responsibilities before the WA Parliament resumes in late February.

She intends to remain a State MP until mid year.

The tightest local contest is expected to be in Swan, a Liberal gain at the last election.

But, incumbent Steve Irons has seen his majority removed by a redistribution, which on paper now makes the seat nominally Labor by just 0.3 per cent.

Electoral swings

Perth's northern suburbs have also been noted for their electoral swings and Labor has had high hopes of making up ground, especially in Cowan.

Former army officer Luke Simpkins won the seat for the Liberals last time, after the retirement of popular Labor veteran Graham Edwards.

Labor's hopes of making up the 1.3 per cent required to regain Cowan were set back when Wanneroo mayor, Jon Kelly, was forced to stand aside as an aspirant because of links with controversial former Labor Premier and lobbyist, Brian Burke.

A former Lord Mayor of Perth, Chas Hopkins, has now nominated to stand for Labor.

Liberal frontbencher, Michael Keenan, also holds the notoriously volatile seat of Stirling by 1.3 per cent.

If there's a pro-Labor swing on, he could be vulnerable.

Hasluck, in Perth's eastern suburbs, has also been volatile.

Labor's Sharryn Jackson won the seat after its formation in 2001, only to lose to the Liberal's Stuart Henry three years later.

She showed her resilience by ousting Mr Henry in 2007 and now has a majority of just 0.9 per cent.

After initial interest from former Police Union president and new Liberal signing, Mike Dean, the party has yet to confirm a challenger, which could be good news for Ms Jackson.

These are the five seats that an increasing number of Federal Labor and Liberal frontbenchers will be rotating through to bolster campaigning as the year proceeds.

And, there will be sweeteners from both sides along the way.

While the polls are kind to Kevin Rudd's government at the moment, he knows public opinion can be fickle.

In a tight finish, the results in these seats could decide whether he gets a second term.

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